Thursday, June 22, 2006
DECISION TIME
Matt. 12:33-37. "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit. 34. "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart. 35. "The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil. 36. "And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. 37. "For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned."
Matt. 12:33. "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.
This verse is another parable comparing the tree and the fruit of its production. We have no difficulty in understanding that the tree is known by its fruit. Good trees yield good fruit goes without objection.
The difficulty in this verse is found in the word “make” – poieo – observe or consider. An English equivalent would be, “He is not the leader that people make him out to be.” We would understand the same sentence rendered, “He is not the leader that people consider him to be.” Jesus is using this same connotation, “Either make (consider) the tree to be good, or make (consider) the tree to be bad.” Herein He places Himself as that tree to be considered; either good or bad.
Confronting the religious leadership with the gravity of sin so grievous that it will never find forgiveness, Jesus points to His own works of healing and casting out demons. He asks them to consider and come to a final conclusion as to His charge. Is He in possession of Satan’s power; the fruit of a bad tree, or does He possess the power of God almighty? The wrong answer is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and will merit eternal punishment for that very sin.
Jesus asks that the fruit be considered. All parties agreed that sickness and death were the fruit of sin and demon possession was obviously the work of Satan. If then you witness My healing of sickness that obviously would lead to death and have witnessed Me casting demons out of inflicted people; Am I a good tree or a bad tree? Do I produce good fruit or bad?
Here again the religious leadership is trapped. Do they repent and be forgiven or do they blaspheme the power of the Holy Spirit by which Jesus had accomplished these miraculous deeds and commit the eternal sin?
Matt. 12:33. "Either make the tree good, and its fruit good; or make the tree bad, and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.
This verse is another parable comparing the tree and the fruit of its production. We have no difficulty in understanding that the tree is known by its fruit. Good trees yield good fruit goes without objection.
The difficulty in this verse is found in the word “make” – poieo – observe or consider. An English equivalent would be, “He is not the leader that people make him out to be.” We would understand the same sentence rendered, “He is not the leader that people consider him to be.” Jesus is using this same connotation, “Either make (consider) the tree to be good, or make (consider) the tree to be bad.” Herein He places Himself as that tree to be considered; either good or bad.
Confronting the religious leadership with the gravity of sin so grievous that it will never find forgiveness, Jesus points to His own works of healing and casting out demons. He asks them to consider and come to a final conclusion as to His charge. Is He in possession of Satan’s power; the fruit of a bad tree, or does He possess the power of God almighty? The wrong answer is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and will merit eternal punishment for that very sin.
Jesus asks that the fruit be considered. All parties agreed that sickness and death were the fruit of sin and demon possession was obviously the work of Satan. If then you witness My healing of sickness that obviously would lead to death and have witnessed Me casting demons out of inflicted people; Am I a good tree or a bad tree? Do I produce good fruit or bad?
Here again the religious leadership is trapped. Do they repent and be forgiven or do they blaspheme the power of the Holy Spirit by which Jesus had accomplished these miraculous deeds and commit the eternal sin?
# posted by Castusfumus : 3:38 PM
